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Speech: In a rare public appearance, Sir John Sawers, pictured, said covert operations by UK, American and Israeli agents stopped Tehran's plans as early as 2008

Sir John disclosed that MI6 had ‘run a series of operations to ensure that the sanctions introduced internationally are implemented, and that we do everything we can within the Middle East to slow down these remaining problems.

‘I take great pride in the fact that ... I’ve been involved in an issue of global concern, and I feel that I as an individual [have made] an impact in the outcome of events.’

Sir John said it was up to MI6 to ‘delay that awful moment when the politicians may have to take a decision between accepting a nuclear-armed Iran or launching a military strike against Iran’.

When that moment came, he said: ‘It will be very tough for any prime minister of Israel or president of the United States to accept a nuclear-armed Iran.’

Sir John did not appear to address any UK involvement in future strikes against Iran.

But any attempt to drag Britain into a military operation would strain the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition before the next election in 2015.

While David Cameron has insisted he has not ruled anything out when it comes to dealing with Iran, the Lib Dems have already said a strike would be a mistake.

Sir John said: ‘The Iranians are determinedly going down a path to master all aspects of nuclear weapons; all the technologies they need.

It’s equally clear that Israel and the United States would face huge dangers if Iran were to become a nuclear weapon state.’

The spy boss was speaking at an event called ‘Unclassified chat: Sir John Sawers CMG’ which was reported in Civil Service World.

The MI6 chief recently warned Cabinet
ministers about the potential threat to Britain from a nuclear arms race
in the Middle East.

Military parade: Iran has openly paraded their nuclear program but deny intentions to build nuclear bombs

He has made few public appearances, although photographs of him in swimming trunks on his wife’s Facebook pages caused huge embarrassment shortly before his appointment three years ago.

In 2010, Sir John stepped out of the shadows to give what was the first ever public speech by a head of MI6.

The former diplomat told the Society of Editors that MI6 would never be complicit in the mistreatment of terror suspects.

The Harvard graduate is said to have been posted to Yemen and Syria in the 1970s and has served as the UK ambassador to the UN.

The reactor at the nuclear power plant in Bushehr, southern Iran

A satellite image of the nuclear facility located approximately 10 miles south of the city of Bushehr